The Swiss legend lost reasonably comprehensively to Serbian favourite Novak Djokovic 6-1, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 at the Australian Open on Thursday night.

And though Djokovic played some wonderful tennis, we consider Federer a winner because he invented this outrageous new shot.

Approaching the net during a point in the fourth set, trailing 15-30 in the fourth game, Federer did something he's been known to do over the course of his glorious career: play absurd tennis.

And this was more than absurd. Playing a volley at the net isn't anything new. But the skill and outrageous confidence it takes to slide across the court to reach an impossible ball at an impossible angle, let alone maintain balance, get the ball over the net, with force and placing it in a tight window Djokovic couldn't reach... well, that's Federer.

With every year and every grand slam, Djokovic deserves more and more consideration to be held up alongside Federer as the greatest player of his generation.

But for now, even in a losing semi-final, we reserve the right to hail King Fed.